January 31, 2012

Savers and bond investors will suffer in the coming years as governments keep interest rates artificially low, says Carmen Reinhart, co-author of a well-received book called This Time is Different. Stocks will stay volatile but do better th

June 2, 2010

Until Europe fixes its "Club Med" debt problems, expect continued volatility in stocks worldwide. A star fund manager reveals alternative plays for proactive investors who see an eventual end to the current crisis.

August 21, 2007

As the subprime mess deepens, the economy is sure to weaken, although it should avoid entering into a recession, says the co-manager of Loomis Sayles Bond. That will likely mean more troubles for stocks and all but the safest kinds of bonds.

August 14, 2007

Market technician James Stack forecast the stock selloff based on its breadth -- the large number of stocks falling even as the market was setting record highs. He thinks we're in for a "garden-variety" bear market.

July 30, 2007

No one can time the stock market, but Steve Leuthold has a better forecasting record than most -- and he recently turned bearish. It's okay to sell some stocks, but don't overdo it. Better yet, move to higher-quality stocks and bonds.

July 24, 2007

Seven weeks ago, risky assets of all types were priced for perfection. Now they're starting to fall, and the decline should accelerate. Meanwhile, expect the dollar to continue to weaken and energy prices to remain firm.

April 10, 2007

Taxes on mutual fund distributions are irksome, but you save little by postponing them -- unless you can put them off for a decade or longer. What's more, capital-gains tax rates are almost certain to rise in coming years.

March 20, 2007

Small caps are overpriced after a huge run, but you shouldn't abandon them entirely. Perritt Emerging Opportunities is one of the best no-load funds that specializes in these stocks and is open to new investors.

February 6, 2007

After five years of scorching returns, REITs scare me. But Jason Wolf, an analyst on my favorite real estate fund, Third Avenue Real Estate Value, thinks a return to modest returns is more likely than a selloff.

January 30, 2007

Heartland Value has a long and distinguished record. But for years its sponsor has been battling SEC allegations that it inflated securities prices. Until those charges are resolved, investors best be careful.

November 14, 2006

Despite one of the best long-term records among large-company value managers, Excelsior Value &amp; Restructuring fund still remains largely undiscovered. But note that manager David Williams will probably remain at the helm only through 2008.

September 11, 2006

Investments are hardly the first thing that springs to mind on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. But the disaster holds lessons for investors. Most important: Don't base your decisions on world affairs -- however horrible they might be.

September 6, 2006

Emerging markets were such wretched performers for much of the 1990s that they earned the sobriquet submerging markets. But today, you bypass emerging markets at your peril. Plus, the best funds to own.

August 8, 2006

Legg Mason Value's record of beating the S&amp;P 500 for 15 straight calendar years is imperiled, thanks to horrible performance so far this year. But the best time to buy this fund is when it's sagging.

August 3, 2006

More and more exchange-traded funds are being brought public, but few are worthy of your money. Many invest in narrow industry segments, and some charge high expense ratios. Still, many ETFs are compelling. Here's how to find the remaining good ones.

March 21, 2006

Funds that mirror Standard & Poor's 500-stock index aren't putting up inspiring performance right now. And new approaches to indexing are cropping up to capture investors' attention. Still, it's hard to argue with the tried and true.

January 10, 2006

The best is yet to come for China, India and other developing countries. But don't jump with both feet into their hot markets. Instead, ease into the compelling long-term opportunities -- perhaps through one of these two mutual funds.

January 3, 2006

Many investing strategists are too pessimistic about the stock market for the long-term. No, we won't see stocks rising 15% to 25% annually any time soon. But companies are awash in cash they can use to increase their dividends or buy back shares --